Is life an inevitable consequence of planetary evolution? By 'life' I do not just mean complex organic life. It could be something simpler like a reverberating, intergalactic, electromagnetic field that propagates, replicates or does simple calculations. Or, a virus in a machine! Can we call a computer program that propagates, replicates and morphs itself, life? I would say that it is as alive as a traditional organic virus. A biologist might argue that life needs nucleic acids, the common build-language of all species on Earth. Then, what about prions? Proteinaceous infectious particles do not need even need a DNA or even a string of RNA but is just an evil twist in their structure.
What is the one defining character of life? Is it the potential to replicate? Is it the potential to evolve? Is it the ability to become without the help of a sentient being?
Like most abstract concepts, 'life' is definition-dependant. A thing is alive or dead based on how the observer defines it. It takes birth at that very moment. A piece of writing or a song that goes round and round in your head could also be called life. Don't you agree?
What is the one defining character of life? Is it the potential to replicate? Is it the potential to evolve? Is it the ability to become without the help of a sentient being?
Like most abstract concepts, 'life' is definition-dependant. A thing is alive or dead based on how the observer defines it. It takes birth at that very moment. A piece of writing or a song that goes round and round in your head could also be called life. Don't you agree?
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